Handbags

Just because Earth Day has passed, that doesn’t mean you can’t continue to keep the idea of Earth Day in your mind. Get fabulous and indulge your globetrotter fantasy while supporting fair trade products such as these fair trade handbags and fair trade totes. Fair trade products help third world artisans to make a living wage while they create one of a kind designs using traditional techniques. The colors, fabrics, and details often inspire the likes of the cool Parisian label “Maje” by Judith Milgrom.

From top left clockwise:
Color Splash Sari Bag Recycled Sari Sling Tote – Made from recycled sari patches these bags are made by an artisan co-op in Northern India. $32.00

Bird Handbags One Night Stand fabric bag, $955 at Net-a-Porter

Taraluna Silk and Hemp Net Bag – A Recycled Sari Silk and Hemp bag designed and created in a Fair Trade co-op in Nepal and pays a fair wage to mostly female workers. $18.

Maje Jelica beaded bag $245, at Net-a-Porter

The Find

Sonia Rykiel may be best known for her knitwear and her namesake ’90s tune by Malcom McClaren, “Who the Hell is Sonia Rykiel?” Today we are swooning over her stud fringe handbag. Made from the softest buttery letter around, the stud embellished shoulder bag has a long skinny shoulder strap and fringe along the bottom. Our favorite detail is the giant tassel zipper pull. This lovely bag comes in turquoise and black. Sonia Rykiel Stud Fringe Handbag, $945 at IntermixOnline.com.

Via The Find

Everybody is talking about Proenza Schouler. Even though the “it” bag craze has died down, there are still designers that are churning out handbags that are must have’s. The newest addition to this group is Proenza Schouler bags. Celebrities have been flocking to this line and sporting the coveted Proenza Schouler PS1 around town (Mary Kate Olsen and Leighton Meester are two fans). Is the craze really worth it? We believe so. While the suede bags from Proenza Schouler are great, the idea of a suede bag scares most people off. Suede is undoubtably hard to keep clean and shows wear very easily.

This is why we would opt for a bright color in leather, just like the Proenza Schouler PS1 Leather Pochette which is done in vibrant chartreuse. Lime green can be a scary color to wear, but it is brilliant to add the perfect pop of color to an accessory rather than an entire outfit. This bag will stand out with a little black dress or look perfectly chic with jeans and a tee shirt. The PS1 Pochette adds a cool dimension with the strap detailing, which is what this line has become known for. There is a fold over flap with a lock and strap fastening as well as compartments at the front, a zipped compartment at the back, and an inside zipped compartment. Buy through Net A Porter for $895.

Metallic handbags have made yet another appearance this season. On the spring ‘09 runways everyone from Prada to Alexander McQueen, Louis Vuitton and Balenciaga garnished their models in shimmery head to toe gold, silver or bronze metallics. Handbags are a clever way to embrace metallics, but keep in mind “less is more”. Just a hint of shimmer is all you need. The metallic handbag runs the gamut of styles: clutches, hobos, satchels and totes. Shown here are the Versace Large Metallic Hobo Bag, Jimmy Choo “Keeya” metallic tote, Corto Moltedo box clutch with tassle and a Zagliani Python Puffy Satchel.

St. Patrick’s Day has become every single persons holiday. On this day, everyone is Irish. Not hard to imagine why. It is a day with all the excuses in the world to drink pints of green beer and tell people to Kiss you, because you are Irish. I truly am Irish, although now married to an Eastern European who refuses to wear green today (bah-hum-bug). Meaghan Mahoney. Spelling of my first name is as Gaelic as they come and the last name screams out Irish, although my family has been butchering the pronunciation for years. Tonight we will have our traditional corned beef and cabbage menu, wash it down with green beer, and some clever little shamrock cookies which are divine. As for my green item, I am wearing a green shirt. I do own green bags, but I really would only want a pop of ravishing color if I were wearing a green bag today. A handbag that is not an everyday bag, a bag that makes no sense otherwise, and that I have found.

Every single aspect of the Lanvin Happy Square Silk Bag screams out tacky. There is the green silk, the frayed shoulder straps, the woven finish. This bag is ornate and gaudy, and by-golly I love it! Yes, you heard me right. There is a love that I have for this bag that is not just because it is green and today is St. Patrick’s Day. But this bag will be memorable. It may be remembered by some for being heinous, but it will be remembered. And that is an aspect that many bags lack. If you are going to get a bag that is a little crazy, why not get a full-blown crazy bag. The look of this bag is safe in parts, but together, it is eye-catching. The crayola green I love. And for a gal like me who wears jeans and plain tees all the time, a bright and crazy bag may just be the option. Buy through Net A Porter for $2315.

Are you really Irish too or just celebrating because it seems like a good idea?

I know I mentioned it before, but last year I had the chance to meet lovely and talented Laura and Sheila of Treesje. Their combination of creativity, business savvy, wit and charm were instantly picked up on. As I walked into their office, I sat down and felt instantly at ease. After a few minutes it was as if I was talking to friends I’ve known for years. The story behind how their brand got started and morphed into what it is today is classic. They met at the wedding of a mutual friend, became friends, became co-founders, launched a brand, and have been making customers happy and eager to carry their bags ever since. In fact, you might remember the initial Treesje Interview we brought you a while back. Since then, Treesje has continued to grow and expand.

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So, the 1980s throwback trend is, like, a thing. I get that. I’m even a moderate supporter of it, when done correctly. The 80s were a time of excess and fashion-forwardness and questionable taste, and everyone loves that, right? Right. Except when it’s done like the Pauric Sweeney Padded Patchwork Top Handle, I don’t love it. At all. Not even a little. It kind of makes my eyes hurt to look at it. This isn’t just a winking reference to 80s ridiculousness – this is taking something that was already fug back then and making it more fug and more expensive 25 years later. And I, for one, am not fooled and not impressed. In order to do “retro” correctly, a designer has to somehow make it sleeker and more modern than it was to begin with, and there’s nothing about this bag that looks updated in the least. It wasn’t cute then, and it’s not cute now, sadly; it’s a retro-gone-wrong monstrosity. Even if this bag was given to me for free, I sincerely doubt I would wear it to anything but a costume party. Buy through LuisaViaRoma for € 810.00.

Remember when you were young and you looked forward to sleepovers? I loved having my friends over but I also loved going to their houses. I would fold up my Strawberry Shortcake sleeping bag and pack up a small bag with what I might need and patiently wait for my parents to drive me to my friend’s house. Well, although my Strawberry Shortcake sleeping bag days are over and I am a grown up, I should carry a grown up bag when I head on a weekend excursion. The Pauric Sweeney Overnight 1 Python Bag is definitely a grown up bag. We’ve shared some fabulous Pauric Sweeney handbags in the past. These people really know how to work with exotic materials, and this bag is no exception. I love the sand colored python, accented with nubuck leather handles, charms on these handles, silver metal hardware and contrasting tweed lining. The python material looks so smooth and flake free (which any good python should be). This would be a great bag to pack up as you are whisked away for a surprise weekend getaway! A little pricey, but if nothing else, at least it is nice to look at! Buy through Net-a-Porter for $2720.

Very rarely do I find myself speechless. Yet at this very moment, I do feel like I am bordering on the verge of speechless. For the life of me I cannot decide if this handbag is a complete disaster or a bit of handbag genius. (Make sure to click on the image to get an enlarged view.) At first glance I definitely found myself saying “oh no, no, no, NO!”. As I kept looking, I started wondering which celeb or socialite might actually be able to pull off this look. The Thomas Wylde Ibiza Suede Bag is without a doubt a handbag made for a very select group of people. Taupe suede, pewter hardware and obviously fringe and bead detailing galore makes this bag what it is – a lot to look at. In relation to all of the embellishments on the bag, it seems rather small (Width 7″; Height 9″; Depth 4″; Handle Drop 25″). Moreover, what would you wear this with? The only thing I could think of was a pair of jeans, a white t-shirt or blouse and sandals or cowboy boots? And wait just a second, take a look at the price tag! So back to my initial question is this a disaster or genius? Buy through Net-a-Porter for $2200.

We have officially entered the month of February, which is many times thought of as the month of love. Not only will February 2009 have Valentine’s Day but a week later Vlad and I will celebrate our marriage. This month is filled with love and we want to share the love with you all. For the first 14 days of February we will be featuring at least one designer a day and each designer will Spread the Love with Purse Blog! From their plans for Valentine’s Day this year to their favorite memory to the best bag from their collection for a Valentine’s Day gift, we will be spreading the love with you all. Make sure to check back at least twice a day to read more about some of our favorite designers.